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People suffering from alcohol or other drug addiction often struggle with emotional self-regulation, which encompasses a person’s ability to recognize and modify their emotional state. A critical skill in times of trouble, emotional self-regulation allows people to think through their behaviors and their consequences before acting. Many drug rehab centers help clients to develop self-regulation […]

What causes someone to become addicted to drugs or alcohol? Researchers estimate that up to 40% of a person’s proclivity for addiction is decided by genetics, with environment and other factors making up the difference. One environmental factor that could sway a person toward addiction is low self-esteem. Someone with low self-esteem may have grown […]

After leaving an addiction treatment center for the first time, the hours of time previously spent getting high, going to the bar, or tracking down a dealer are suddenly free. Whole mornings, afternoons, and evenings await, begging to be filled. But with what? In the grip of a drug addiction, people often lose sight of […]

For years, addiction was seen as a moral failure characterized by people too lazy or gluttonous to quit using drugs. Since the mid-twentieth century, we’ve begun to move past that view as addiction specialists have proposed new models of addiction. These models are foundational to how we treat addiction; an addiction treatment center that views […]

When someone leaves on a military deployment, there are plenty of risks, but coming home with an addiction or mental health disorder isn’t usually at the top of the list. Unfortunately, it’s a reality for a significant portion of active duty service members and veterans. Factors such as stress, combat exposure, pain, and injuries increase […]

It’s a well-known fact that drugs can damage the brain and other organs. But not many people realize that drug use can harm the immune system. For those in early recovery, or those still withdrawing in addiction recovery facilities, a weakened immune system poses a potent threat to stability and sobriety. The immune system is […]

Summer is a time for relaxation and celebration, and, for kids in high school, a break from homework and classes. But summer is also a time for increased experimentation and elevated drinking patterns in underage kids, leading to increased drunk driving, risk of addiction, and stays in addiction recovery centers. According to Mothers Against Drunk […]

After leaving an addiction treatment center, early recovery can be overwhelming. Every thought is catalogued, every craving discussed, every mistake mulled over. Sometimes, in the midst of this constant self-examination, people just want to get outside of themselves and find a healthy distraction to help them get through the day. Volunteering in the local community […]

When someone is addicted to drugs, their body slowly deteriorates. Alcohol poisons the liver and can cause cancers. Drugs suppress appetite, which means addicts rarely eat and don’t get the nutrition they need. In terms of appearance, drugs weaken the skin and hair, robbing them of their elasticity and strength. And of course, drugs harm […]

It’s no revelation that alcohol is a culprit in thousands of deaths each year. In addition to alcohol-induced violence and accidents, drunk driving crashes, and alcohol poisoning, problem drinking causes fatal liver disease. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol causes 88,000 deaths per year in the U.S., and 25,000 of […]